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Tampa Airport Releases First Look at New Concessions Packages

(April 11, 2014) - Tampa International Airport announced its redeveloped concessions program will allow vendors to bid on 13 different food and beverage, retail, service and duty-free packages. The packages were outlined at the April board meeting of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority.

The solicitation process begins in July for the program that is worth about $1.3 billion in gross sales over 10 years. The contract with the airport’s existing sole concessionaire, which dates back to the opening of the terminal in 1971, expires in 2015. Plans call for making contracts available to multiple operators, a concessions model that has become popular among large airports in recent years.

The new program calls for six food and beverage packages that range in size from three to 11 units, or businesses, located in various areas of the terminal and airsides. Four retail packages include three to 14 units, also located in a mix of terminal and airside locations. Two service packages, which could include nail salons, barber shops and spas, will have four to five units each, located in each of the airside terminals. There will also be one duty-free package with two units.

“Our new concessions program is designed to provide the best mix of restaurants, shops, bars and services throughout the Airport that best serve our passengers’ needs,” said Bhavesh Patel, Director of Concessions at Tampa International Airport. “This is the first time in more than 40 years that we have embarked on redeveloping our entire Airport Concessions Program, and we plan to introduce new concepts and offerings that will both reflect the spirit of Tampa Bay and create a memorable dining and shopping experience for our customers.”

Tampa International Airport will begin soliciting competitive proposals this summer and awarding contracts in 2015. By the end of 2015, airport visitors will begin to see new storefronts and restaurants opening, with all new businesses in place by 2017.

The airport has been conducting a series of workshops covering the basics of operating a business in an airport environment, minority and small business requirements, and the solicitation process. The next and last workshop will be held April 16 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater from 9 a.m. until noon, and again on April 17 at The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County in Ybor City from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. For more information on Tampa International Airport’s concessions redevelopment program, or to register for updates and upcoming opportunities, go here: http://www.tampaairport.com/concessions